Newcastle 4-1 Brighton: Newcastle United are one and a half legs in the Champions League after a 4-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night. It was only very late that the home club, with Sven Botman in the base, distanced itself from the visitors from the deep south.
Newcastle can smell the champions League after a big win over Brighton
Newcastle clearly started as the stronger of the two teams and saw that rewarded halfway through the first half, albeit with a good portion of luck. Kieran Trippier turned a beautifully cut corner kick into the goal mouth, where Brighton striker Deniz Undav was the unlucky one to extend the ball into his own goal with his head. On the stroke of half time it became even better for Eddie Howe’s team.
Trippier again swung a ball in front of goal, this time from a free kick. And Dan Burn’s giant stature ran into that cross to make it 2-0, his first Premier League goal for Newcastle.
Second half
Immediately after the break, the home team had another good chance of what probably would have been the decision. It was not valued, on the other side it was Undav who now scored in charity.
Callum Wilson then had another chance to make third for the black and whites. But in this bird derby, The Magpies failed to beat The Seagulls. The visitors, for ninety minutes, were unable to go for the 2-2. And had to start the long journey home empty-handed after Callum Wilson made a name for himself. The striker himself completed the 3-1 and even enabled Bruno Guimaraes to make it 4-1.
One win away from sealing a Champions League position
Newcastle are now third in the Premier League, four points above number five Liverpool, with both teams still having two games to play. In concrete terms, that means: Howe’s team has to win one more time. On Monday against the very low ranked Leicester City, the first Champions League adventure at St. James’ Park since 2003 can be secured, otherwise a rematch at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea awaits on the final day.
